Fish Finder recommendations

[teabag259]

I am looking to get a fish finder next season. We don’t want to break the bank and I’m probably getting a small boat too. Can someone provide a recommendation for a quality fish finder that isn’t too expensive?

[Big Rick]

Humminbird Helix Series. You can add/delete options and increase/decrease size to fit your budget. Very user friendly and pretty much waterproof. 

[12poundbass]

The most bang for your buck would be the Garmin Strikers units. They don't have mapping but you can create your own. 

 

The Humminbird Helix units are good too, and you can find a few good deals right now and probably more since they just announced the Helix gen3 units.

[WRB]

Budget and boat type?

Tom

[Catt]

Lowrance® HOOK2 4X Bullet™ GPS Plotter 

 

I put one in my Alweld this year for $120, best little unit for the price!

[DSTN]

I second the Hook2 recommendation. I picked one up for my kayak this summer. You can get it without GPS and save around $20. That is what I did but to be honest wish I had the GPS so I could mark waypoints.

[teabag259]

21 hours ago, WRB said:

Budget and boat type?

Tom

I’m probably looking to get a Jon Boat to fish the lakes in the area. As for fish finder budget...I’m thinking in the $200 or less range. 

[WRB]

Cats suggestion looks good.

[Catt]

39 minutes ago, teabag259 said:

I’m probably looking to get a Jon Boat to fish the lakes in the area. As for fish finder budget...I’m thinking in the $200 or less range. 

 

I closely examined the Helix 5 & HOOK2-5X, for additional they both preformed no better than then HOOK2-4X.

 

 

[gnappi]

I have a small tin boat (a 10' Lowe 1040) with space at a premium I have Garmin Striker 4, and at ~$100 it does everything I need it to do mainly:

 

It fits my small boat, it's waterproof, has a depth alarm, water temperature, and it marks fish, grasses and underwater structure clearly. I have no need for charts as the waterways, and small lakes I fish are not on charts anyway.

 

Anyway, It's bright, easily removable, and there's an optional cover for it to protect the screen for when I take it off the boat and put in in the bag with the rest of my stuff.